MCX retailers might cry uncle on Apple Pay sooner than you expect

The Apple Pay vs. MCX CurrentC saga is far from over yet, and it looks like there may be hope for shoppers who regularly go to MCX retailers to soon pay with an Apple Pay-enabled device. At least that’s what a new Re/code report seems to suggest, after having talked with the CEO of MCX, Dekker Davidson.

The exec said that MCX isn’t afraid of Apple Pay competition and said there ought to be multiple “compelling” mobile payments systems available to users in the future. But MCX wants an exclusivity deal with retailers interested in CurrentC so that CurrentC actually has time to develop. Davidson is asking for “breathing room” for CurrentC to arrive, which apparently is a “massive undertaking” for the group.

Interestingly, Davidson said that the exclusivity agreements that exist, and could prevent retailers like CVS and Rite Aid from allowing Apple Pay payments in their stores, even though they briefly did, will end in a matter of “months, not years.” Davidson also denied that MCX ordered CVS to stop taking Apple Pay payments.

Thus, in the near future, more retailers might start accepting Apple Pay right alongside CurrentC. So far, only one brave retailer confirmed that it supports both Apple Pay and CurrentC — midwestern chain Meijer — without having to suffer any dire consequences.